Have you ever had an idea that you believed in, but it didn’t take hold? Or seen someone else come up with a similar idea much later – and suddenly it becomes a success? It’s not always the quality of the idea that determines whether it succeeds or not.
Timing is one of the most important factors in an idea’s development, acceptance and ultimately becoming reality.
Ideas are born independently of time
Ideas often arise when we see a problem or an opportunity, but they can also be born out of pure chance. That’s why creativity is often about creating environments where ideas have a chance to emerge – regardless of whether there is an immediate need or not. Lateral thinking, where we consciously break habitual thinking patterns and let chance play a role, is an example of how we can gain new insights that we would never have otherwise thought of.
Consider the V-style in ski jumping, which was made popular thanks to Swedish ski jumper Jan Boklöv. Even before the technique became standard, an individual skier had tried spreading his skis in the air, which made him fly significantly further. But he was told to stop – because it “looked ugly”. If he had been heard then and there, the development of that ski jumper could have taken a completely different path, much earlier. If not Boklöv had dared to jump differently, it would have probably taken even a few more years before this jumping style became a success. Ideas are therefore not dependent on time to be born, but timing is crucial for whether they take hold.
The development of an idea requires the right timing
When an idea is to be developed, however, timing plays a crucial role. In the beginning, many ideas meet resistance, either because they feel unfamiliar or because they challenge existing structures. But when enough people have heard the idea enough times, it begins to take hold.
It is about giving the idea time to mature in the minds of others, but also about finding the right people at the right time. Sometimes a single person or context can make an idea explode and develop at breakneck speed. But until then, it’s important to be patient and keep spreading the idea.
Implementation
Coming up with an idea and developing it is not enough – it also has to be understood and accepted by those who will use it. Here, timing becomes even more important.
Take the digital camera as an example. The technology existed long before it became a hit, but without the broad acceptance and infrastructure that developed around it (such as the internet, better memory cards, smartphones and social media), it would not have had the same impact. At the same time, products like the iPhone and electric cars could have taken significantly longer to establish themselves if they had not been launched at exactly the right moment in relation to other structures and behaviors.
So it’s not just about the strength of the idea, but about what other factors are in place. Sometimes the world is simply not ready – but the right timing can make an idea take off in record time.
A snowball metaphor
One way to think about ideas is to see them as snowballs. Many snowballs that you need to roll to find the right timing.
In the beginning, you have to roll the balls yourself and give them momentum. It can be hard to work with several ideas at once. But you never know which ball will grow into an avalanche. Suddenly, others may start to help roll, and then you have to focus on that idea and make sure it develops as quickly as possible.
But that doesn’t mean you should stop rolling the other snowballs. Your biggest ball may encounter unexpected resistance and one of the others may start rolling faster later. Creative people are often the kind of people who always have several ideas rolling at the same time – ready to accelerate the ones that take hold.
Ideas need both time and timing
Many people believe that if an idea is good enough, it will automatically become a reality. But what makes an idea good? Well, an idea has to mature, be understood, have the right context and be accepted by others before it can be realized. Timing is not just luck, it can be created but it often takes longer than you think.
So what does this mean for you? Well, keep creating ideas, even if they don’t always catch on right away. One of them will find the right timing – and then you have to be ready to roll that snowball all the way.
